Improvement in pocket-knives



UNITED Srnrns PATENT Cnrrc'n.

HENRY STAUDE, OF TBOY,NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN POCKET-KNIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,052, dated April 22, 1873; application filed December 30, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY STAUDE, of the city of Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of NewYork, have invented an Improved Pocket-Knife, of which the following is a specification:

Nature and Object of the Invention.

My invention renders it easy to remove broken or useless blades from the handle and to insert a new blade into it; and consists of a screw-bolt and nut in place of the bladerivet, and a device to suspend the action of the spring of the handle during the change of the blades or tools.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective of screw-bolt used instead of the knife-rivet. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the nut to fasten bolt. Fig. 2% is a face view of the same. Fig. 3 is a face view of a wrench to fit the nut. Fig. at is a plan of the knife, showing the head of the screwbolt and aperture through handle to hold spring in position. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of one form of back-spring and slot in same. Fig. 6 is a similar view of another form with projecting notch or shoulder with cut or notch in blade to correspond with same. Fig. 7 is a face view of knife, partly open, showing projecting notch in the spring by which the spring is held suspended. Fig. 8 is a perspective of knife with spring suspended to remove blade.

General Description.

The bolt, Fig. 1, has a headso formed and fitting into the handle that it cannot turn, and a screw-thread, a, to fit the screw-nut b to the same, shown in Fig. 2. This nut is of a circular form, having in its face two or more marginal notches, d, into which closely fit the prongs d of the wrench c, Fig. 3. To suspend the action of the spring, the handle may be perforated in such a manner as shown in V Fig. 4 at point I, and a wire inserted therein after the spring has been forced back by partly opening the blade, and the spring be held in position until the change of blades; or the end of the spring may be cut or filed in such a way that by moving the blade this prepared cut will be available, into which a wire or oth er obstruction may be placed to hold the spring suspended while the change is made. This cut may be a mere vertical slot, as shown at c, Fig. 5, and in that case the blade or tool has the ordinary shank and shoulder of a blade; or I form a projection or notch on the end of the spring, as shown at e, Fig. 6, and I make a corresponding second shoulder or notch on the shank to be used with the same, as shown at c, Fig. 6.

The blade is fastened into the handle by the screw-bolt and nut in the usual manner; then,if desired to change the same, the wrench c isytaken in hand, the prongs d d inserted into the notches d d of the nut 12, and the nut loosened so that it may be turned by hand. The blade is then partly opened, and the wrench takenout and reversed, and inserted in the slot of the spring 0, or between the projection of the spring and handle e, where it is firmly held by the spring. Now, the nut is fully turned off by hand, the bolt pushed out, and the old blade removed. After the new blade is inserted in the handle the bolt is dropped into position, and the nut placed on and partly turned by hand. The wrench is then easily taken out of the cut by moving the newly inserted blade, and the nut is screwed down by the wrench, which then, for safe keeping, may be inserted in a springaperture in the handle, or otherwise kept for future use.

The handle of the ordinary pocket-knife, although the most expensive part of the knife, becomes nearly worthless after the blade or blades have been broken or otherwise spoiled, while a knife-handle with my above-described improvements,which do not materiallly increase the cost of manufacture, always retains its value, as it enables the (owner to renew his blades or to insert blades fitted for insertion with very little trouble. The screw-bolt and nut for holding the blade also render the knife stronger and more durable than the rivet com monly used.

Claim-s. comb ination with a removable screw-bolt and I claimnut,jsubstantially as and for the purposes set 1. In combination with the handle and blade forth. of a knife, the detachable screw bolt and HENRY STAUDE. nut, all arranged as and for the purposes set forth. Witnesses:

2. In a knife-handle, the construction of the ALVAH TRAVER, spring and detachable blade, as described, in A. E. WOOSTER. 

